Fluid flow control valve



NOV. 2,- 1943. w GREENlNG '2,333,310

FLUID FLOW CONTRL VALVE Filed May 13, 1940 77771 725 @eff/WNS f Patentecl Nov. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID FLOW CONTROL VALVE Walter Greening, Los Angeles, Calif. Application May 13, 1940, Serial No. 334,830

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a Iluid ow control valve and has for its principal object, to provide a relatively simple, practical and inexpensive valve that will be effective in controlling the flow of liquids and further,to construct the valve and provide the same with simple means for accurately regulating the volume of liquidrfiow through the device, particularly where a constant flow of liquid is required. l

Valves constructed in accordance with my invention may be advantageously employed wherever a regulated constant ow of liquid is desired and the particular forms of valves herein illustrated and described are especially designed for regulating the constant flow of liquid fertilizer or chemicals to water that is distributed on the ground used for the growing of plants, vegetables, crops, and the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a constant ow regulating valve that may be cc-nveniently connected to the necks and mouths of the conventional containers utilized by the manufacturers and producers of liquid fertilizers.

A further object of my invention is to provide a now control valve of the character referred to that may be conveniently adjusted and set so as to permit constant flow of liquid as ar result of gravity and the controlled admission of air to the container to which the control valve is connected.

A further object of my invention is to provide a valve wherein the flow of liquid therethrough is constant and not affected by surface tension developed during the flow of liquid through the valve and the duct leading therefrom and likewise not affected by varying air pressure conditions that might develop in said valve and the outlet therefrom.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken lengthwise through the center of the constant ow control valve constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the same applied to the outlet of a container.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the calibrated member and head of the air valve that are used for regulating the admission of air to the valve and the container to which said valve is connected.

Fig. 3, is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section of the valvular means used for4 controlling the admission of air through the'device. y

Fig. 5 is a vertical section similarto Fig. 1 and showing a modied form ofthe valve.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, I 0 designates a conventional container utilized by manufacturers and distributors of liquid fertilizers and the like, said container having the general form of a bottle and provided with a neck II that is externally threaded for the reception of a screw cap.

The body of my improved valve is in the form of a short, hollow, cylindrical member I2, from the upper end of which projects upwardly a short plug portion I3 that is adapted to fit snugly within the opening through the neck II of the container.

Formed in the upper portion of the body I2 just below the plug portion I3 is a circumferential flange I4 that receives the in-turned lip of a collar I5, preferably formed of rubber or the like, and the upper portion of which collar engages the external threads on the neck II of the container, thus rmly connecting the Valve to the container and providing fluid pressure tight joints between the valve and the container.

Formed integral with the valve body I2 just below the groove I4 is an outwardly projecting lug I6 in which is formed a horizontally disposed threadedrecess II and screw seated therein is a short externally threaded plug I8 provided on its outer end with a head I9. `Projecting outwardly from the inner edge of head I9 is a short linger 20 that is adapted to co-operate with the graduations on the face of a disc ZI that is secured on the outer end of lug I6.

Formed integral with the body of the valve at the inner end of the threaded recess I'I therein is a conical lug 22 that projects into the inner end portion of said recess and the inner end of the plug I8 is provided with a conical recess 23 that snugly receives the lug 22 when the plug I8 is screwed to its limit of movement into the threaded recess in lug I6.

vFormed through plug I8 and head I3 is an axial bore 24 which is for the purpose of admitting air into the valve.

Formed through the wall of the valve body I2 and plug I3 on the same side with and above lug I6 is a vertically disposed duct 25 and communicating with the lower end thereof'is a plurality of small ducts 26 that lead from the inner end of the recess I'I that receives plug I8.

The chamber Within plug I3 is closed at its upper end by an inclined wall 28 disposed a short distance below the upper end of that portion of the wall in which duct 25 is formed, and

, formed through the lower portion of the inclined valve body, any sediment that may be present in the liquid fertilizer will iiow by gravity 'downward into said chamber instead of accumulating and finally closing the upper end of Vair inlet duct 25.

Depending from the lower end of body I2 is a short tubular outlet 30` through the wall yof whichy is formed a small air inlet opening 3| and connected to the lower end of said outlet tube is a duct 32, for instance, a flexible tube that leads to a tank or irrigation ditch containing water that is to be treated with liquid fertilizer or the like. Y

After the valve has been applied to the neck of a liquid fertilizer container and secured thereto by the collar I5, plug I8 yis screwed into the recess II so as to close communication between air duct 24 and the ducts 26.

The container I is now turned upside down with the discharge end of tube 32 positioned so as to deliver the liquid fertilizer or the like into the Water that is Vto be treated. Head I'9 on the end of screw plug I8 is now engaged and rotated so as to move said plug outwardly within lug I5, thereby breaking the seal between the conical member 22 and surface of the conical recess 23 in the end vof the screw plug `so that air may pass through duct 24, thence through `ducts 26 Vand upwardly through duct 25'into theA lower portion of container I0. This `aifpasses to the upper end of the container and permits liquid Within said container to flow downwardly through opening 29, thence through the lcham"- ber within plug I 2, thence through tubular member 30 and from thence through tube 432 tothe tank or other receptacle for vthe waterthat is tol be treated.

By utilizing the finger 2t andthe graduated scale on the face Aof disc I9, the 'inlet' offai-r through the valve and into the container may be Very accurately regulated and as a result, the

flow of liquid from the container into thewater I" to be treated will be correspondingly regulated and thus, the volume flow of the liquid fertilizer or the like may be only a few drops per minute or a small stream, as conditions require.

In order to bring about a uniform seepage/or flow -of the liquid from the valve to and ythrough the conduit 32, the small air inlet opening 3I is provided in tube 30 and as said aperture is inclined downwardly toward its inner end, vthere will be no tendency 4for the escape of liquid through said air inlet opening. v

To cut 01T the discharge of liquid throughthe valve, it is only necessary to manipulate screw plug I8 so as to seal the inner end vthereof against the conical plug y22, thus cutting Aoff the inlet of air to the container I0.

It is to be noted that the upper endv of yduct is located a substantial distance above `the opening 29 that permits liquid to iiow from the container into the valve, and such arrangement insures the flow of air bubbles from the upper Y end of the plug I3 upwardly through the liquid in the container without possibility of the incoming air passing downwardly through opening 29 into the valve.

In the construction of the device just described and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, it is to be noted that the outlet end of the air inlet duct 25 is positioned in the extreme lower portion ofthe container I0 `and a short distance above the opening 29 that permits liquid from the container to pass into the chamber Within the hollow member I2.

This arrangement of the air inlet and liquid outlet is essential inasmuch as While the device isin operation, the air in the form of a row of *separate bubbles discharges from the upper end j of y-th'e duct 25 and passes upwardly through the liquid within the container I0 and the pulling forcesY of these bubbles in their travel to the top of the body of liquid within container I0 counterbalances the weight -of the liquid therein so that, the now of liquid through outlet 29 into the chamber within member I2 'and from thence through tubular memberland tube V3-2-is conetant. v Y Thus thesame volumeiiow of lliquid'from `the container VI1! -rprevails regardless of the gradually diminishing weight ofl the liquid as it discharges from the containerso that, an Veven and uniform distribution of ,the liquid over the ground that is treated with liquid fertilizer is attained.

counterbalaningnof the weight of the liquid within container `I0 cannot be attained where the lair isH discharged into 4an lair space withinlthe container `above the liquid therein.

r YIrithe modified construction illustratedin Fig. 5, a tube 33 depends* from 'the plug portion -34 of the valve body :35, which plug portion is seated in theA mouth of thencontainer and said depending tube 33 terminates -anshort distance above thel'bottomuof the Valve body 35. Passing through ythe Ibottom ofthe valve body and offset from tube 33 is a tubeV 36; the upper end of which terminates in vthe chamber within the valve body a ,substantial. distance above thevlower end of tube kSIjlLtht-isk providing ya'conve;itional trap in thelower portion o-f `thevalve body forgcontrollling lthe `flow of liquid therethrough and therefrom. n x

Depending from the lower end of tube 36 `is aduct 31., preferably a fiexible tube, which performs the-same .functions as duct-32.

A orrned on te sidev of the valve4 body is fa lug -38 in whiol-imis screw -Asea-ted the threaded .portion (lil` of `a Aneedle vali/eM), the tapered inner end of which isadapted toclose a duct -4I that.

,passes upwardly through theywa'l-l of Vthe Avalve body 35 and through plug 34, saidv duct terminatingat the upper end of said'plug'. The lower end of duct 4I 'communicates VWithaclnipmber 42'fo`rmed1in inner .portion of lug38 and yforxfned through the wall of said lug and comunicating with 'chamber 42 is an air inlet openfing 43.

In this construction, the threaded body ofthe valve carriescnl i-ts outer end- :tf-head 44wprro vided on its edgew-it-h a finger 45 that-is adapted toV co-operate witha graduated sca-le "on the face of a disc 46 that is mounted on 1ug-38,l thereby providing means for positioning the-valve to vregulate the passage of air` through inlet `opening 43; chambe.r 42 `and duct 4I.

I-n this construction, the airinlet valveA is opened and then set so as to permit aspre# determined volume flow of air through the valve into the container to which the valve is connected and as air is thus admitted to the container, the liquid fertilizer or the like will flow downwardly through tube 33 into the lower portion of the chamber within the valve body 35 and after iilling the lower portion of said chamber said liquid will overilow into the upper end of tube 36 and then now through said tube and through duct 3l to the water that is to be treated.

The provision of the trap in the lower portion of the chamber in valve body 35 insures constant and uniform discharge of the liquid fertilizer or the like from the container and this uniform ow is enhanced by the provision of a small air inlet port 4l that is formed through the Wall of the valve body 35 at a point above the upper end of outlet tube 35.

While I have described my improved valve as being particularly designed for bringing about a constant regulated flow of liquid fertilizer from a container for foundation fertilizing purposes, it is to be understood that the valve may be utilized Wherever an accurately regulated volume now control of liquid is desired and particularly Where such volume flow is relatively small or limited.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a fluid flow control valve that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very efective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It Will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved fluid flow control valve, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a uid flow control means, the combination with a container having at its lower end, an outlet and a depending neck surrounding said outlet, of a plug having its upper portion seated in said neck, said plug being provided with a fluid ilo-w chamber, there being an outlet from the lower portion of said chamber, a substantial portion of the upper end of the plug being inclined, there being an opening formed through the lower portion of the inclined upper end of said plug, which opening communicates with the upper portion of the iiuid flow chamber within the plug, there being an air inlet duct formed in said plug to the side of said fluid ow chamber, the upper end of which duct terminates above the upper end of the inclined surface at the top of said plug and means for controlling the admission of air to said air inlet duct.

WALTER GREENING. 

